It’s my favorite time of the year when we find out what San Diego Comic Con (which will stay put at the SD Convention Center until 2021, I heard yesterday) will bring us. All panels, as usual, will be in Hall H unless otherwise noted, all times are Pacific Daylight.

The D23 Expo will once more mortally wound SDCC as there will be no previews/panels for The Last Jedi or the Han Solo standalone Star Wars movie. Disney does not want to share those meal ticket items with anyone but themselves.

Experience a sneak peek at David Ayer’s new film Bright. Set in an alternate present-day where humans, orcs, elves and fairies have co-existed since the beginning of time, this action-packed and completely original film will make for a must-see panel with stars Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace, Lucy Fry, Edgar Ramirez and David Ayer featuring exclusive footage/Q&A.

Attendees will also be treated to a first-look at the edgy thriller, Death Note, based on the Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Cast and filmmakers TBA will debut footage and discuss the project’s transition from graphic novel to film. 3:15-4:30PM

Sony Pictures Classics Presents: Brigsby Bear panel w/actors Kyle Mooney, Dave McCary, Beck Bennett, Kevin Costello, and members of The Lonely Island. There will be an exclusive extended clip of the film followed by a Q&A. 12:45pm – 1:45pm

Warner Brothers Pictures Presents The Lego Ninjago Movie Panel TBA: In this big screen Ninjago adventure, the battle for Ninjago City calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, a.k.a. the Green Ninja (Dave Franco), along with his friends, who are all secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu (Jackie Chan), as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon (Justin Theroux), the Worst Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad. Pitting mech against mech and father against son, the epic showdown will test this fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash their inner power of Spinjitzu. 6:45-7:45pm Room 6A

Behind the Battle: War for the Planet of the Apes
Halon Entertainment presents a deep dive behind the artistic and technical visual effects tour de force War for the Planet of the Apes. VFX producer and film co-producer Ryan Stafford, previs and postvis supervisor A. J. Briones, and Halon Entertainment lead/sup Casey Pyke will take the audience through the process of creating the monumental battle between Caesar and the army of humans that will determine the fate of both of their species and the planet. You’ll also be treated to exclusive behind-the-scenes material. 11am – Noon Room 32AB

Hall H was a complete mess. Things like Brigsby Bear, Teen Wolf, Twin Peaks, Preacher, even Westworld shouldn’t have been in there, not because they’re unworthy but because real fans of these projects didn’t even have a chance to get into most of them due to the way they were all sandwiched in between big things like Warner Bros and Marvel.

I get this happens every year and they probably do this intentionally to have the larger crowds in there for further exposure but most of them are just residual Walking Dead or Game of Thrones fans that insanely slept out since Thursday night and have no real interest in Twin Peaks or Westworld or Preacher. That’s dumb.

And Friday was a disaster with half of Hall H empty for Twin Peaks while fans were waiting outside and could have easily fit. The majority of the staff here was just highly incompetent and that’s a shame. And then people were getting in with fake wristbands. They really need a better system or something and have for years now but I’m sure nothing will be improved.